Thinkpads Forum

Hi folks, I have some quick dumb questions.

My T61 (non widescreen, Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7500 @ 2.20GHz) currently has two 1 GB 667 mHz memory sticks. This is more than enough for my linux OS, but I am also running XP in VirtualBox and it's a little sluggish. So I thought a memory upgrade might help. I found these on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/2048MB-Samsung-Or ... am+800+mhz

Are these going to work? Vendor doesn't supply a list of compatible laptops. I would put two in for a total of 4 GB.

Also, my current version of linux is 32 bit. Does that mean that only 3 GB of memory would be usable? If so I could switch to a 64 bit version.

Thanks,

Sara

A fellow Thinkpadder seems to have asked a similar question...

This may help...

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=96890

- TPFL

As well as this resource: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd012623

rkawakami wrote:As well as this resource: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/pd012623

The problem with Lenovo (as is regularly the case) is that their info is outdated and incorrect.

Lenovo wrote:T60, T60p, T61 PC2-5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM 667 MHz 4GB (**)
X61, X61s, X60 Tablet, X61 Tablet PC2-5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM 667MHz 4GB (**)
R61 PC2-5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM 667 MHz 4GB (**)

Notes:
(*) PC2100 memory option parts are no longer available. Please substitute the corresponding PC2700 memory option parts.
(**) Windows Vista supports up to 4GB maximum memory (32-bit versions of Windows Vista cannot support 4GB). Windows XP supports up to 3GB maximum memory

No mention of 64-bit OS, nor of PC2-6400, nor of 4GB RAM-modules, nor of 8GB possible in T61/R61/X61 and X300.
Plus a whole boatload of other omissions...

Thanks for your help!

Sara

I have been happy with Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800 from Amazon...

I tried two of the Komputerbay 2GB DDR2 800MHz PC2-6300 PC2-6400 DDR2 800 cards and had all sorts of issues with them. After failing multiple memory tests and getting replacements finally just gave up on them and got theCrucial 4GB Kit (2GBx2) DDR2 800MHz (PC2-6400) CL6 SODIMM 200-Pin from Amazon for under $50 and they worked perfectly in my T61 (7663-11U)

I have installed the Middleton BIOS and have been told I could easily run a 2 x 4gb DDR2 kit but the cost for those is still well over $120 so I really don't think it's worth it. At that point it's just sinking more money into an ancient laptop where it would be better off spent on a newer used Thinkpad with cheaper memory options running modern DDR3 or better. Newer memory is way cheaper than this DDR2 stuff in sizes over 2gb per card.

Right now I'm running 64-bit 15.10 Ubuntu and the memory seems to be doing OK most of the time although I had a caching issue a while back and I did find that sometimes the 4gb was getting used right up just doing normal stuff like surfing and having too many Chromium tabs open. If I were doing anything like gaming or much graphics work this laptop would be fairly slow with only 4gb of memory. 8gb would be much better, if not so expensive. For a daily surfing machine it's still chunking along with 4, but I'm afraid as Chromium gets more and more memory greedy in the next couple of years this laptop is going to either need a 2x4 DDR2 kit or be replaced with a newer used Thinkpad. Up until 4 years ago I was still running a T4x machine and as little as 8 years ago I was running a 770 (with extensive CPU mods) so I am used to running ancient Thinkpads well past their normal service lives.

I've found that as time goes on, and with each new technology generation, memory gets cheaper and more available in the bigger cards at a cheaper price each time it is improved. Older and more useful larger memory cards are sometimes still available in last-generation cards, but are prohibitively expensive in sizes that can max out the theoretical memory of the older machines like ours. 4gb DDR2 is quite pricey, while 4 and 8gb DDR3 cards are cheap for newer machines. I had this same memory cost problem with my 770's and my T4x's. I'm sure this trend will continue with DDR4 versus DDR3 and again with each newer generation of memory cards. It's not so much as how much can I feasibly make the machine run with to max it out, but is it even financially a good idea over just buying a newer machine with more affordable memory.

Kinda depends on your future plans.
My T61 replaced my old desktop, so it became my primary computer, until I build/buy another desktop later maybe this year.
As a result I decided to max the RAM to 8GB, so I would not be memory constrained, and I'm glad I did.
Yes the T61 is not as fast as my wife's quad-core, but it is fast enough for me, for now.

Being retired, with too many hobbies, I have to push my gear as far as I can, before replacing it.

If you haven't purchased the 2gb ram chips yet I have some original lenovo models which are the correct PC2-5300 speed, the PC2-6400 is usually cheaper and works fine, but I'd prefer the proper speed when available and the price is comparable.

What appears to be a reasonable set of 4 x 2GB DDR2 chips:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301867627930?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

$32.26 shipped!

Reading the smallprint where they mention
* Memory Brand: Major Brand: Kingston, Crucial, Micron, Samsung, Hynix, Elpida, Spectek, TopRAM, V-DATA, Rambo, etc. depending upon availability
you can be almost guaranteed to receive one of the underlined brands, NO THANKS.

If I needed 2GBs I'd rather buy these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELPIDA-4GB-2x2G ... 1982590921

If forum members located in Spain wanted to upgrade their T61 to a full 2x4=8GB or RAM, this would currently be a great opportunity to purchase Hynix brand DDR2 4GB modules for 38,16 EUR each (including shipping within Spain): www.ebay.es/itm/172149453429. Probing the amount of available items, as of writing these lines, seller appears to offer up to forty single 4GB RAM modules.